All entry fees must be paid by Friday, April 28th 6pm. Entry fee includes all meals, awards, and goodie bags. Souvenir shirts and caps can be purchased.

Registration will take place at Stingaree’s Down Under at 6:00 pm Friday April 28, prior to the Calcutta, but is not required.

Fishing Rules All anglers must have a valid Texas Fishing License and Saltwater Stamp. All Texas Parks and Wildlife rules must be observed. Boats may leave the dock 6:00 am on April 29th. Natural or artificial bait may be used.

3 Trout (limit of one trout over 25” per team), 2 slot redfish and 1 flounder will we weighed per team. Winners will be determined by total weight of the catch (maximum of 6 fish). Ties will be broken by check-in times.

Winners may be subject to polygraph. Cash prizes may not be awarded until authenticity is determined.

Tournament boundaries are the surf from High Island @ HWY 124 West to San Luis and

Galveston bay complex. Entries can begin from their preferred launch or beach access.

Tournament will begin at daylight April 29th.

Weighing Official weigh in will take place from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm at Stingaree’s Restaurant & Marina and will be administered by the Lions Club. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Prizes and Payouts

Heaviest Stringer: 3 Speckled Trout, 2 Redfish, 1 Flounder

1st place – $2000.

2nd place – $1000.

3rd place – $500

Kids Hardhead Haul-in 12yrs old and under presented by Holtzclaw Memorial Foundation.

Heaviest Hardhead wins a $500.00 scholarship

Kids can start fishing at 8:00am. Weigh-in will be between 9:00am-10:00am. Awards

ceremony for kids will be @10:30am. Hot dogs and drinks will be served.

Christmas Only Comes Once A Year!

So, get in on some of Texas Marine’s unique gifts for the boater, angler or watersports enthusiast in your life!

This one is a new and innovative way of dealing with the many rods and reels scattered around your home. The Angler’s Tote and Angler’s Tote XL are versatile, multi-use gifts for fisherman. Both are rugged, compact designs that are ideal on-board rod racks for any boat. Each model loads and unloads quickly. The 8-rod model uses upper and lower clips to hold light tackle rods in place. The 6-rod model, design handles larger combos, uses upper and lower brackets. The clips and brackets are adjustable up and down on the frame for perfect control. Ultra-light crappie rigs up to 2 piece surf rods can be carried easily. The rods are separated, which keeps them tangle free when carried with the terminal tackle. Each model can be locked into on-board positions or removed by use of a single hitch pin.

DECK MOUNTING

It is quick and easy to mount and use. Innovative, efficient new way to transport and store your fishing poles.

Tucked away in one of the numerous pdbmagazine.com articles this last month is a heroic look at someone who sacrificed so much for the United States getting to live out his American Dream. It just so happens for Bronze Star recipient, Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, that dream included a pontoon boat. He said he remembered waking up in the hospital after an IED had exploded during his 3rd tour in Afghanistan, with no arms or legs. The exact words out of his mouth were “I want double stuffed Oreos, pineapple juice and I’m going to buy a double-decker pontoon boat to pull us all around Higgins Lake on a tube.” He had never even owned a boat before but suddenly that is what he knew he wanted. He used that as one of his motivators for almost 2 years of rehab.

After rehab, he was in a position to boat shop. He started going to local boat shows to learn what he wanted. The double-decker Avalon seemed to be the perfect fit. When he finally settled on it and went to get it at the local dealer he missed it by only a few minutes. Someone else had decided they just couldn’t live without it. In the long run, it worked out much better because he got to purchase an Avalon LSZ 2685 Cruise model which had most of the exact amazing features including the layout. It had the Art-Deco design, the only thing it lacked was the top deck. Its Retro looks of the Cadet drivers stand hearkens back to the muscle car days and provides a fun driving experience. It also has a powerful Millenia Bluetooth stereo, & speakers, tilt steering, soft Pillow top drivers chair and comfortable lounge seating with flip up storage compartments. Staff Sergeant Mills doesn’t regret his time in the army and would actually prefer to still be serving, rather than retired due to the IED. But to put a positive spin on it, at least he can be on the water more than most other boat owners.

Staff Sergeant Mills has become a motivational speaker these days. So many are eager to hear his story which is truly inspirational. He grew up in Michigan and admits to the fact that Avalon boats are built in his Hometown state, which somewhat factored into his decision to buy one. However, it was only part of what he considered. Sergeant Mills took plenty of time to do his research and for him the priority was quality. He purchased the Avalon from his local dealer and has gotten to be friends with many of the staff there. He only had to have a few modifications made in order to accommodate his disability. He needed an elevated stand next to the helm with the digital throttle controls raised to be able to reach them. The first summer he had the boat he had to stay on board and cook because it was to hard to get back in the boat once he learned to swim in the water without his arms and legs. Thanks to his local dealer a hoist was installed thanks to the dealers ingenuity.

Although Sergeant Mills has plenty of obstacles to overcome, regularly, he now has a hobby he and his family can do together, thanks to his new Avalon LSZ Cruise pontoon boat. There are plenty of things he cannot do with them, but now he can go tubing, boating and fishing with them. His boating experience actually motivated him to start a non-profit organization in order to help other disabled veterans realize there is still plenty of life worth living, despite their handicaps. He brings veterans and their families to Maine where he shows them first hand how life can still be lived to its fullest. The boat helps with giving them confidence and independence. For the ones that bring kids, it gives them a way to have fun and play together. If you would like to contribute to helping his non-profit it is called “The Travis Mills Foundation” and has raised 2.7 million dollars so far to help wounded veterans start living life again.

Prepare dark roux or purchase it like you would normally do. in a microwave melt the butter. In a saucepan over high heat add butter, celery, onion, green pepper, parsley, pepper and small bundle of tied together fresh herbs of your choosing, such as rosemary. Saute it all together for several minutes, stirring. Then you can add the veal stock and lemon juice and boil for a couple of minutes. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add 1 tblspn of the dark roux and simmer another 3 minutes until mixture is thick. Then keep adding the roux on tblsnm at a time until the sauce gently coats the spoon. Season it all to your taste wtih salt and pepper. Strain the sauce carefully into a bowl.

Frying Method:

In a deep heavy saucepan fill halfway with oil. Heat to 350 degrees. Place the flour on a plate and season it with salt/pepper.

In a separate bowl add the buttermilk and milk. Place in large, shallow bowl mix the milk and buttermilk. Dredge your fish fillets through the flour, then dip in buttermilk, coat both sides the same. Dredge back through the flour a second time and gently shake excess off. Lower the fillets into the heated oil. Fry for 5 minutes until a golden crispy brown.
Dredge two of the trout fillets in the seasoned flour, then dip in the buttermilk mixture, coating both sides evenly. Dredge again in the seasoned flour and gently shake off the excess. Gently lower the two fillets into the oil. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until golden brown, nudging occasionally. Retrieve the fillets gently with a skimmer and transfer onto paper towels on a plate to drain.

H.R. 3094 the “Gulf Coast Red Snapper Management Authority Act,” just left the House Natural Resource Committee with bi-partisan support. It is a bill to transfer management of Red Snapper, in the Gulf of Mexico, from the Feds to the appropriate States. It still needs the full approval of the House and Senate, along with the President’s signature to be become law, it wouldn’t hurt to call your Congressman and the President.

“Once it becomes law, the mechanism in the bill for the transfer of management authority is very simple: Once a States agree on their management plan, then the responsibility moves to that States,” the President of CCC (Center for Coastal Conservation) said to news organizations in June. The CCC is just one of many groups who have worked tirelessly to change the way Red Snapper is regulated for the recreational anglers. The Red Snapper season this year was only 9 days, causing these anglers to see red.

The House has really stepped up to the plate when it comes to challenging fisheries issues, the last couple of years. They passed a fix to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act, which had grouped commercial and recreational fishing into one big pot, regulating everyone the same. The President of Congressional Sportsmen’s foundation said “The Feds model is clearly not working, and it’s time for a more balanced approach to the management of fisheries.”

Remember the ole cliché’ “The government that governs best is the one closest to the people?” Well, the same could be said for fish management. The reason the Feds are having problems is because their data collection methods are not able to measure recreational angler’s harvest accurately. All of the Gulf States have been measuring this on their own quite effectively. The states management process will be combined with their already existing data collection procedures, for the red snapper population itself. This will put the states in the perfect position to assume all new management responsibilities from the Feds.

This new method of management should allow recreational anglers to have well over the current 9 day fishing season. They will have access to one of the most thriving Gulf of Mexico red snapper populations, in decades. Texas and Louisiana red snapper anglers deserve much more than the current system by the Feds is providing for them and states are the best way to make that happen. They have proven themselves in this area time and time again, providing the populations sustainability while giving anglers plenty of reasonable fishing opportunities. If this all sounds like something you would like you may want to call you Congressman and the President to pass and sign the bill into law.

There is many outdoor activities you can do with your children they will enjoy. However, none of them will give you the life lessons and immediate rewarding results that fishing will. One of the quickest ways to teach your children the rewards of fishing is to have a family fish fry! There is an immediate reward at the end of the fishing trip they will never forget. Begin to build up the fish fry to your kids before the event occurs, so they can start looking forward to it. Also, explain that they will be providing the fish for the family event so they have skin in the game. You may have to subsides some fish by purchasing or using what you already have, but its worth it. Begin planning the family fishing trip and also your guest list with them. Allow them to make some decisions about the trip and party itself. This activity alone will begin to build an appreciation in your kids for the value of family time together.

Fresh or Saltwater fish will work for any fish fry. Plan on about half a pound of fish per adult coming to your fish fry, so you know when you have enough. One of the most important tools for having a successful fish fry is a deep fryer. If you can invest or borrow a quality double-vat propane outdoor fryer with 2 burners you will be glad you did. You will also need a great recipe for the fish; most families have their own twist on a basic recipe. Beside fish you will need the traditional sides like fries, onion rings, hush puppies, coleslaw, pickles and onions known to jazz up any fish fry! Also, remember no fish fry is complete without sweet tea. Last but not least, don’t forget the tartar sauce, vinegar, ketchup, cocktail sauce and lemons! Then for a sweet ending to the day break out the banana pudding or peach cobbler.

The very best part about a fish fry is virtually no cleanup. You can go old school with old newspapers or paper bags for plates and have a roll of napkins on the table for fun. If the kids enjoy more of an invested interest in the party decor they can set the table with paper plates, napkins, cups and plastic utensils for a more formal look. Have a large garbage can with clean empty trash bag within site of the table and people will get the hint, instant cleanup!

No fish fry is complete without games, so break out the washer boards, croquet and horse shoes! Invite the cousins and let your kids experience the fun of a traditional good ole fashion family fish fry.

World’s Most Popular Marine & Lakes App! A favorite among boaters. Find the same detailed charts that are on GPS plotters. This app includes the overwhelming value of Navionics+. Alternatively, you may have found a free version on the store offering basic features but Navionics+ can be purchased In-App.

NAVIONICS+ includes:
Chart layers you can purchase that will permanently reside on your device:
-NAUTICAL CHART for all essential cartographic reference detail. The most accurate and thorough set of information based on Hydrographic Office data, Notices to Mariners, new publications, our own surveys, and reports from users. It provides port plans, safety depth contours, marine services info, tides & currents, navigation aids and more.
-SONARCHART™ HD bathymetry maps with up to 1 foot contours featuring extraordinary bottom contour detail, great for increasing awareness of shallow waters and locating fishing areas at any depth level. Be part of the community and contribute by uploading your sonar logs to enhance it.
– COMMUNITY EDITS made by users (rocks, wrecks, etc.) and shared for all to benefit.
√ CHART UPDATES: we deliver more than 2,000 updates every day! Take advantage of our updates as frequently as you like.
√ ADVANCED MAP OPTIONS to highlight Shallow Areas, select Depth Shading, filter Depth Contours, and adjust shorelines to selected Water Level. Includes a Fishing Mode.
√ NAVIGATION MODULE for advanced route planning with ETA, distance to arrival, heading to WP, fuel consumption and more!
√ DOCK-TO-DOCK AUTOROUTING quickly creates detailed routes even through narrow waterways and channels, based on chart data and navigation aids. POIs are automatically shown nearby your destination.
Note: Download detailed maps by zooming in or from Menu>Download Map. Tap Menu>Update All to keep your charts updated. Check navionics.com for coverage.

Ever heard of a “Sport Fishing Boat?” If not, then check this blog out on one of the most successful sports boat companies in the industry, Yamaha Jet Boats. After excelling in the jet boat market, for decades, they have decided to enter the fishing boat industry with the Yamaha 190 FSH Sport Boat.

They hit it out of the ballpark with their 2016 signature model center-console fishing sports jet boat. They incorporated their popular one-stop engineering of engine, hull and accessories along with the stability of a great platform and the safety of an internal drive system, all in this newly designed vessel.

There is no outboard motor in the way of your casting on this sport boat with its innovative fishing friendly features. If you happen to get in weeds you have Yamaha’s patented pump clean out system to get the weeds out of the engine, without even getting wet. There are features like a dual-positioned leaning post seat that flips back to give you great views. Also there is huge live-well with 2 aerators, easy access to dual battery and switching systems. There is a storage compartment for the bait buckets and nets, making it easy to get your bait in and out of the water without a mess. The console was clearly designed by an angler. There is plenty of room for in-dash fishing navigation system and nice top so you can put gimbled electronics in it if you prefer. There are digital and analog gages and a compass. Next to the leaning post seat, on both sides, simply flip up the rear deck to reveal very cushy seats for passengers. There is an astronomical amount of rod storage on this model. Helm console opens up to give you a head compartment for a portable toilet. There is a jet-wash powered by the propulsion system to allow you to pressure wash the deck down. There is so many unique features on this new sports model fishing vessel you just have to come by Texas Marine and check one out today.

The Benefits for Families who Engage in the Great Outdoors are numerous! In a world driven by technology, it’s simple to forget the natural world surrounding us.Rarely do you see children in public today that do not have their eyes glued to a screen of some sort. Bring your children to spend time in the outdoors and teach them the benefits of that.

Each minute that kids spend in front of electronics is another minute they’re not spending time outdoors! Here are some reasons you should raise your kids in the outdoors!

Teach Them Patience

What better lesson to teach your children then the virtue of patience! Hunting can be a fantastic lesson that patience and perseverance can lead to great reward.

Encourage Activity

Staying active helps reduce stress and anxiety, and can help children with both behavioral issues and attention spans.

Educate Them

The more you educate them now, the more they know in the future. Help to promote self-sufficiency for future generations.

Keep Them Healthy

Let them run. Let them jump. Let them climb. A healthy childhood can lead to a long-term healthy lifestyle.

Spark Their Curiosity

Get your kids involved and interested in the outdoors. Show them things they’ve never learned before and let them ask questions. Fresh air is good for the mind, body and soul. Get your kids outdoors and let them appreciate all it has to offer!

“There is at least 12 SeaRobins (Prionotus tribulus) species inhabiting Gulf of Mexico waters. The Bighead SeaRobin is the largest, most common, and the only one to inhabit lakes and estuaries, as well as nearshore waters. Not only can these beautiful fish glide through the water with ease using their ‘wings’, but they can also use the elongated rays on their pelvic fins to ‘walk’ on the bottom while searching for the worms and small shrimp that they eat, especially in sandy seagrass habitats.”…..nwf.org

In this Gulf of Mexico Wildlife Series: SeaRobin will be the topic discussion. The SeaRobin, a most curious looking fish, inhabits the Gulf of Mexico waters. They become more active at night in the bays and salt water estuaries surrounding the Gulf. They are protected by a natural beautifully colored armor (in most cases) and bony heads. The pectoral fins have ornate patterns on them. Unlike most other fish SeaRobins are vocal. They can produce audible sounds using the muscles attached to their bladders. This is the SeaRobins claim to fame, noted by most of the residents in the areas they inhabit. These creatures can be as large as 28″ so imagine the sound they can make.

If you would like to purchase one for your saltwater aquarium there are places online to get them. A quick google search turned up this one, you may find interesting: